Owen J. Roberts 2017 midfielder Austin Kourey was pleased with his performance Sunday at the inaugural GoFightWin Showcase at Trenton’s Mercer County Park.

2017 MF Austin Koury, Owen J. Roberts , Duke’s LC

“I wanted to play hard and get the GB’s,” said Koury, who plays for the Duke’s L.C.. “Skill wise, I was trying to do my best, because I knew there was college coaches watching. Maybe I caught one of their eyes and can get a college offer from this showcase.”

The event featured elite players in the classes of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Players participated in a coach’s clinic and three games before an All-Star Game was held to close the day (see All-Stars at bottom).

Koury also answered these questions:

How was the competition and what did you do to adjust to that level?
Koury: “I thought this showcase was very competitive. I liked the coaches that were out here. Every game, I had to adjust, whether it was playing to the left or right. I had to figure out how they were playing defense in each game. Usually at these showcases, there’s not many slides, so after the first dodge, you’re trying to go to the net.”

What are you looking for in a college athletically or academically?
Koury: “Academics are very important to me, so getting into a school by using lacrosse is the way to go. It’s definitely helpful, because you’re going to go to a school for academics. Lacrosse would be second, and hopefully, I’m able to get into a good program.”

What did you learn from this event that you can take with you for the rest of the fall and spring season?
Koury: “I learned that I should play hard no matter what. I also was doing my best on every play. I’m sure what I learned here will definitely help me in other showcases and the upcoming spring season.”

Others that shined:

Daniel Zarillo, 2018 ATT, Seton Hall Prep, NJ, Patriot Lacrosse

2018 ATT Daniel Zarillo, Seton Hall Prep (NJ), Patriot

How was the competition and how did you adjust?
Zarillo: “The competition was very good, and I thought this showcase was very different,” said Zarillo, a 2018 attackman from Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) at Patriot Lacrosse. “We played only two attackmen instead of three. We had to adjust by playing from behind on the left and right side, so I thought that was tough at first.”

What goals did you have today and what do you feel you accomplished?
Zarillo: “When I first came here, I wanted to help the team with goals and assists,” he said. “I wanted to make my team better. I feel that I accomplished those goals by helping everyone get better.”

What are you looking for in a college athletically or academically?
Zarillo: “I want to attend an all-around great academic school and a very good athletic school. Hopefully, I will be able to fit into that kind of school. I hope that my grades are good enough to attend a very good school.”

What did you learn from this event that you can take with you for the rest of the fall and spring season?
Zarillo: “I would like to communicate better with my teammates, and I think that this showcase has helped with that. We didn’t really know each other here, so we had to communicate to each other to help our team succeed.”

Ryan LaForty, 2019 goalie, Ridgewood (NJ), NJ Riot

2019 G Ryan LaForty, Ridgewood (NJ), NJ Riot

What goals did you have today and what do you feel you accomplished?
LaForty: “My goal was to get noticed by the college coaches that were here. However, I won’t know until after this showcase if I really made an impression. I feel like I played well.”

How was the competition and what did you do to adjust to that level?
LaForty: “The competition was good, but it was nice to be able to play with new kids. They were definitely better than the kids from my area.”

What are you looking for in a college athletically or academically?
Laforty: “I want go to into news media, so I would like for them to have that kind of program. If they would have lacrosse, too, that would be even better. I want to be a TV producer or broadcaster when I get older.”

What did you learn from this event that you can take with you for the rest of the fall and spring season?
Laforty: “You have to make the best of your time on the field and hopefully that will translate into a scholarship in the long run.”

What goals did you have today and what do you feel you accomplished?
Warren: “I gave it my best and got a lot of GB (ground balls). Skill wise, I was just trying to perform. It was great to play in this showcase, as there was a lot of talent out here. It was also extra special to be selected for the All-Star game.”

How was the competition and what did you do to adjust to that level?
Warren: “I thought this event was very competitive. There’s a lot of good coaches here to see us play. In every game, I had to adjust, whether it be dodging or (figuring) how the defense was playing. Usually at these showcases, there’s not much defense, so you don’t have to dodge like you would in a traditional game.”

What are you looking for in a college athletically or academically?
Warren: “Academics are very important to me and I think getting into a school using lacrosse is the way to go. It’s definitely helpful, because I can get a scholarship from a school that would help pay for my education. I’d really like to get into a very good academic school.”

What did you learn from this event that you can take with you for the rest of the fall and spring season?
Warren: “I learned to play hard and do my best on every play. I hope that I can bring the new skills that I was taught with me into the spring season.”

The All-Stars from the inaugural GoFightWin boys’ showcase held Sunday at Mercer County Park (N.J.).